How to Use a Release on a Bow Shot

Archers have one goal in mind while drawing the bowstring back to shoot the arrow: hitting that perfect bulls eye. In that time between pullback and release, a narrow bowstring can dig into the archer's fingers, creating an uncomfortable feeling after repetitive shooting. Using a release is one way to avoid this issue. Releases give a more comfortable grip while shooting the arrow and come in a wide variety of types. Using these can also improve the quality of your shooting. While the exact usage may vary, there are common instructions that apply to all.

• 1

  Nock the arrow by placing it on the arrow rest and clipping it to the bow string directly back from the rest.

• 2

  Attach the release to the bow string directly under the nock, which is the plastic clip that attaches the arrow to the string. Depending on the model of release you have, the procedure for this may vary, but it typically involves simply clipping the end to the string.

• 3

  Grip the release in the proper manner according to the model you use. Some models attach to the wrist, while others are gripped using your entire hand.

• 4

  Place your finger on the trigger.

• 5

  Assume your preferred shooting stance and lift the bow.

• 6

  Pull back the bow until your hand with the trigger reaches your anchor point. For most archers, this is somewhere between your cheek and your chin.

• 7

  Press or pull the trigger on your release to shoot the arrow. This frees the release from the string so you can repeat the process when you shoot the next arrow.